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Joshua vs Klitschko: How have Joshua's fellow London Olympic gold medallists fared?

Class of London 2012
Image: Anthony Joshua was part of an elite crop of fighters who claimed gold at the London 2012 Olympics

Anthony Joshua has etched his name in history as one of a select few who have won Olympic gold and a world title.

Nearly five years on from his 2012 success, 'AJ' will fight in front of an expectant 90,000 crowd at Wembley Stadium against Wladimir Klitschko this Saturday night, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

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On the bill, he will be joined by fellow Olympic gold medallists Luke Campbell and Katie Taylor at the national stadium.

Britain's Anthony Joshua (L) poses with Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko
Image: Joshua defends his IBF title against Wladimir Klitschko, with the vacant WBA 'super' title also at stake

Here we look at each of the London 2012 boxing champions and how they built on their Olympic success.

Men's gold medallist

Super heavyweight: Anthony Joshua (Great Britain)

The Londoner was destined for greatness after defeating Roberto Cammarelle via the count-back system to claim Olympic gold in his home city.

As a professional, Joshua has taken out all before him, registering 18 straight wins by knockout and will now face the ultimate test at Wembley when he fights two-time heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Anthony Joshua could feasibly defend his Olympic heavyweight title in Rio this summer if the changes happen
Image: Joshua with his 2012 gold medal from London

Heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)

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Since turning professional in 2013, Usyk has fought 12 times as a cruiserweight and knocked out all but one of his victims.

He has been taken the distance by two boxers so far, Krzysztof Glowacki in 2016 where he took the WBO title from the champion and Michael Hunter in April 2017.

Oleksandr Usyk won a host of medals as an amateur
Image: Oleksandr Usyk won a host of medals as an amateur

Light heavyweight: Egor Mekhontsev (Russia)

The southpaw from Russia showcased sound amateur pedigree before his London triumph when he won the heavyweight World Amateur Boxing Championships in 2009, defeating Oleksandr Usyk in the semi-final.

As a professional, Mekhonstev signed terms with Top Rank and is unbeaten in 13 outings.

Egor
Image: Egor Mekhontsev representing Russia as an amateur

Middleweight: Ryota Murata (Japan)

Murata is the first boxer from Japan to become Olympic champion since 1964 and the only fighter from the country to claim gold at a weight class above bantamweight and flyweight.

As a professional, Murata is unbeaten in 12 bouts and will challenge for the WBA 'regular' middleweight title on May 20 against Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam.

Murata
Image: Ryota Murata will fight next on May 20th

Welterweight: Serik Sapiyev (Kazakhstan)

Sapiyev's decorated amateur career included winning world championship gold in the light welterweight division in 2005 and 2007 and Olympic gold at 2012.

The Kazakh beat Britain's Fred Evans in the Olympic final 17-9 and won the Val Barker Trophy for the best boxer of the tournament. However, unlike his countryman Gennady Golovkin, he did not follow on from his Olympic success and turn professional.

Sapiyev
Image: Serik Sapiyev has not turned professional

Light welterweight: Roniel Iglesias (Cuba)

The Cuban sensation won a junior world lightweight gold in 2006, bronze at the Beijing Olympics and gold at London when he defeated Denys Berinchyk from Ukraine by a score of 22-15.

Just like many Cuban's before him, he never made the switch to the paid ranks.

Roniel
Image: Roniel Iglesias in action for Cuba

Lightweight: Vasyl Lomachenko (Ukraine)

Vasyl Lomachenko is perhaps the most decorated amateur in the modern era and the first 2012 Olympian to win gold and a world title.

During his time wearing a vest and head-guard, the Ukrainian amassed a record of 396 wins against just one loss, which included back-to-back successes in Beijing and London.

'Hi-tech' then made the audacious attempt at winning a world title in his second fight as a professional, but just fell short against Orlando Salido. However, he would go on to win the vacant title in his next bout and has since become a two weight king.

Gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's Light (60kg), London 2012
Image: Vasyl Lomachenko celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony in London 2012

Bantamweight: Luke Campbell (Great Britain)

The baby-faced southpaw from Hull put his city on the boxing map when he defeated Ireland's Joe Joe Nevin to win gold in 2012.

As a professional, 'Cool Hand' seemed on track for a world title shot before a surprise defeat to Yvan Mendy in December 2015.

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Luke Campbell says just beating Darleys Perez on Saturday is not enough, he wants to impress and show he could one day top a bill at Wembley.

He has since rebuilt with four straight victories and hopes to stay on course for a crack at the world title when he fights on the Joshua-Klitschko undercard.

Flyweight: Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba)

Ramirez accomplished the Olympic double by winning gold in London and Rio.

There is no news as of yet whether the 23-year-old will push for a third title in Tokyo or turn professional.

Ramirez
Image: Robeisy Ramirez may stay amateur and go for a third successive gold in Tokyo

Light flyweight: Zou Shiming (China)

Shiming is arguably the most famous boxer from the Far East, winning bronze in the 2004 games and back-to-back golds in 2008 and 2012.

As a professional, he is training out of the famous Wild Card gym in LA owned by Freddie Roach and overcame his 2015 failed world title attempt by defeating Prasitsak Phaprom for the vacant WBO flyweight belt last time out.

Zou Shiming
Image: Zou Shiming won back-to-back gold medals

Women's:

Flyweight: Nicola Adams (Great Britain)

Nicola Adams' face lit up the 2012 games when she won gold at flyweight. The fighter from Leeds went on to defend her crown four years later in Rio and has recently made the switch over to the professional ranks.

British Olympic boxing gold medalists Nicola Adams and Anthony Joshua (R) wave to the crowd as as they go past St Paul's
Image: Nicola Adams and Joshua after their 2012 triumphs

Lightweight: Katie Taylor (Ireland)

Her country's flag bearer in the 2012 Games, Taylor is one of the most loved athletes in Ireland having won five consecutive golds at the Women's World Championships, six golds at the European Championships, five gold medals at the European Union Championships and gold at the London 2012 Olympics.

Taylor failed to medal in Rio but has impressed with four straight wins since turning professional and will showcase her boxing talents on the Joshua-Klitschko undercard

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Katie Taylor says she has prepared well for southpaw Nina Meinke and wants to face the best so she can fulfill her dreams as a professional.

Middleweight: Claressa Shields (United States)

Claressa Shields made American history to become the first person from America, male or female, to win back-to-back Olympic golds after her London and Rio triumphs.

Shields has also gone on to make further seismic steps in her short time as a professional, starring on the huge Kovalev-Ward undercard before headlining her own show in America, and becoming the first female to do so.

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Watch the explosive fight between Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews from the Ward v Kovalev undercard
Watch Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium on April 29, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book the event online here or via your Sky remote.

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